Shipping (Domestic Vessels) Act, 2024.

The purpose of this Act is to: (i) provide for the registration of small vessels and water sports devices; (ii) regulate maritime activities of domestic vessels, water sports devices and small vessels operating in Barbados waters; (iii) ensure that vessels, marine facilities and moorings are fit for the intended purpose and comply with the safety and environmental standards under the Act and its statutory instruments required to protect the marine and general environment; (iv) promote and maintain high standards of conduct and competence of persons operating domestic vessels, water sports craft and water sports devices; (v) provide for the training, certification, licensing and registration of persons operating vessels and water sports crafts and involved in vessel related activities; (vi) provide for the effective enforcement of safety of life at sea in the conduct of vessel related activities; and (vii) protect the marine environment from any adverse impact of vessel related activities.
This Act shall apply to domestic vessels, and foreign-registered small vessels operating within Barbados waters. It shall not apply to: (a) vessels that are above 150 GT flying the Barbados flag and operate beyond the Caribbean Trading Area; (b) vessels that are above 150 GT flying the flag of a foreign country and engaged in international voyages; (c) Caribbean trade vessels that are above 150 GT; (d) vessels belonging to the Government of Barbados; (e) vessels employed in the defence of Barbados or Barbados waters; and (f) fishing vessels.
This Act lays down provisions on the establishment, duties and powers of the Barbados Maritime Transport Administration; general operational requirements; registration of domestic vessels, foreign-registered small vessel and water sports devices; licensing of Barbados small vessel operators and Barbados small comercial vessel operators and permit to operate Barbados-registered pleasure vessels for commercial use; training, certification, licensing and registration requirements for operators of small commercial vessel operators; requirements for boat masters, boat technicians, boat manufacturers and approved marine surveyors; public educational or training institutions,private marine training schools or institutions and instructors; surveys, seaworthiness and certification of vessels; general safety duties; general safety requirements; general environmental requirements; marine salvage and wrecks; abandoned, derelict and stray vessels; marine facilities; marine safety officers and maritime law enforcement officers; management and administration of small vessel industry support fund; sustainable economic development initiatives; and small vessel and water sports community investment schemes; and climate change, disaster mitigation and adaptation plan.
The general environmental requirements include duty to protect and preserve marine environment; marine environmental protection training; environmental protection requirements; vessel cleaning; garbage management; oil and oily waste management; sewage management; chemical waste management; vessel refuelling; vessel emissions; vessel noise management; penalties and enforcement.